Closing Argument Part 3

    A Closing argument concludes with the point spelled out with evidence, truth, and feelings being expressed in an appropriate manner.  The stages are a summary of evidence, reference evidence to reiterate the point, attack the holes or weaknesses of the opponent's argument, use the law to support your point, then convict the audience their responsibility to uphold that law.  

    This is where Job was in his closing argument.  He was coming to the end.  He had laid out his evidence, points, feelings, and knowledge of God's laws.  Now he just need to get his friends to accept it as the truth and get on board to seeing God in a new way.

    Job was faithful to God and His covenant with man.  He did everything he could to uphold God's standards, even controlled where he allowed his eyes to look.  He was determined to walk in faith no matter how angry, bitter, or discouraged he may have become.  

    Job turned to his friends and pointed out that only God was allowed to judge Job's life.  He had been a faithful friend, father, and husband.  He had been a good boss to his employees.  He helped the poor and helpless.   He knew the standards of how to live upright.  He did all he could to honor God.

    What he still did not understand was why all of this horrible stuff happened to him.  He understood all too well where his friends were coming from because he was like them until this all happened.  He would have assumed their guilt if it had been vice versa.  How was he supposed to get them to see things without them experiencing something horrible too.  He loved God with all his heart.  His suffering did not change that.  He sought out God now with more fervency.   

    Sometimes it take a powerful event to change everything.  Job had to experience unimaginable suffering to be able to teach the world how to approach God in a new way.  We can feel secure in asking God anything.  On the other hand, a few hundred years later the Holy Spirit changes things with the Pentecost (a miracle).  This event changed how we can experience God's presence.  The whole point is being able to have a relationship with God that grows and thrives no matter what.

Job 31